Thai Cucumber Salad

$2.84 recipe / $0.47 serving

This salad is one of the very first recipes I ever posted on Budget Bytes. Like, way back when I was still taking photos with my pre-smart-phone era phone. Yikes! Because this Thai Cucumber Salad is still one of my favorite dishes and my favorite way to use up all those delicious and inexpensive cucumbers every time they’re in season, I had to repost it and give it the proper attention it needs. This Thai Cucumber salad is insanely simple, super fresh in flavor, and makes a fantastic side to any Asian inspired meal (like the Hoisin Stir Fry Bowls that I made this week).

So, if this Thai Cucumber recipe is new to you, I hope it becomes one of your go-to fav’s as it has for me. It will serve you well!

P.S. I always get questions about what type of vinegar you can sub for rice vinegar in this recipe and I have to strongly urge you to wait until you can pick up a bottle of rice vinegar. Rice vinegar has a uniquely mild flavor and acidity that is just perfect for this recipe. I find that white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are both a bit too strong. Rice vinegar is fairly inexpensive, can be found in the Asian section of most major grocery stores, and will stay good in your pantry for just about forever. If you make Budget Bytes recipes on the regular, I promise it will get used again! ;)

Thai Cucumber Salad

Thai Cucumber Salad

Thai Cucumber Salad is light, refreshing, and vibrant in flavor. This super fast dish makes a great side to any Asian inspired meal.

Total Cost
$2.84 recipe / $0.47 serving

Prep Time15minutes

Total Time15minutes

Servings6

Ingredients

DRESSING

1/3cuprice vinegar$0.59

2Tbspgranulated sugar$0.10

1/2tsptoasted sesame oil$0.06

1/4to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes$0.03

1/2tspsalt$0.02

SALAD

2large cucumbers$1.60

3green onions$0.25

1/4cupchopped peanuts$0.19

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and salt. Set the dressing aside to give it time to blend.

Peel and slice the cucumber using your favorite method (see photos below for my technique). Place the sliced cucumbers in a large bowl.

Chop the peanuts into smaller pieces, if desired. Slice the green onions.

Add the dressing, peanuts, and green onions to the sliced cucumbers. Stir to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to eat. Give the salad a brief stir before serving to redistribute the dressing and flavors.

Step by Step Photos for Thai Cucumber Salad

Start by making the dressing so that the flavors have a minute to blend. In a small bowl, stir together 1/3 cup rice vinegar, 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp toasted sesame oil (this should be dark in color and have a strong nutty aroma), 1/4 to 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp salt. Set the dressing aside.

Peel and slice two large cucumbers however you like. I like to remove strips of the peel to create a cool striped effect once they’re sliced. If you don’t like cucumber seeds, you can slice the cucumber lengthwise before slicing into rounds and use a spoon to scrape out the seeds in the center.

I prefer thin slices so that there is more surface area to come into contact with the dressing. The thinner slices will become soft and wobbly after storing them in the dressing, but I kind of like that, too. If you prefer them to stay crunchy longer, you’ll want to do thicker slices. Some people also prefer to cut the rounds in half to make smaller pieces, but I like the large pretty rounds.

Roughly chop 1/4 cup peanuts and slice 3 green onions.

Place the sliced cucumbers in a large bowl and pour the dressing over top.

Also add the chopped peanuts and sliced green onions.

Finally, just stir it all up and you’re ready to eat! Serve it immediately or refrigerate for later.

The flavors do get really good as it sits in the fridge, although the cucumbers get softer (some people don’t like that–I kind of do!). Either way, this Thai Cucumber Salad is super refreshing and delicious. It always has been and always will be my favorite!

97 comments on “Thai Cucumber Salad”

I am amazed at all of these recipes. I cannot wait to try them! I have made the Pasta with spinach and it was so good I’m making it again tomorrow but the best part is how EASY you make them!!! Thank you 😁

My husband and I love going to a local Thai place and have been looking for a recipe to duplicate their cucumber salad…this recipe goes above and beyond in taste! I dare say it tastes better than the restaurant’s cucumber salad. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! Absolutely loved it! This one is definitely a keeper.

More chinese than thai…
Thai very seldom use vinegar as a sour agent (Except when they cook Thai chinese) but use lime/tamarind
Most of Thai salad have garlic and fish sauce in it, absent here. And they will use more fresh chilies than chilies flakes for this salad.
Your recipe is definitively tasty and good but it is NOT Thai (misleading title).
You can check https://youtu.be/W1Vn5-Hl4fo if you want to see what a real Thai cucumber salad is.
It may sound negative but I am just voicing the truth. As I have mentioned, still a great recipe (but more chinese).

I haven’t reviewed this yet!?!? I am back again to make my weekly batch of this salad, and it’s my husband’s turn to make dressing. Sometimes, I make it as is, sometimes no peanuts, sometimes I add 2 carrots sliced. I use either rice vinegar or apple cider to change it up since we eat it so often. This recipe is perfect as is, or you can play with it a bit. Either way, my husband and I get on kicks with this salad, and we eat about 5 cucumbers in a week (between the two of us). Love these cucumbers!

Funny how most of you commented with what you must of thought was a compliment, One Problem… Most of you said how you “CHANGED” this amazing “Recipe”!!!!
Thank you, This was delicious! My family and I enjoyed it for 4 days, and I received a request for more from my daughter and her friends! The way you explain your recipes.. The pictures? The Tips? Step by Step, I found it very helpful! My Family and I are looking forward to trying more of these delicious recipes.. ❤️ 👩‍🍳 👨🏻‍🍳 🥒 ❤️

Hi! I’m Beth

As a food lover and a number cruncher I've decided that cooking on a budget shouldn't mean canned beans and ramen noodles night after night. Join me for delicious recipes designed for small budgets. More »